Timer.



C. H. CUNO.

TIMER.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 30, 1915.

1 1 88,906. Patented June 27, 1916.

Si n bf/43014101 5 THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH C0.v WASHING TTTTTT c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. CUNO, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUNO ENGINEER-ING CORPORATION, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TIMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed November 30, 1915. Serial No. 64,347.

To all whom it m my concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. CUNo, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Meriden,Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Timer, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved timer construction for electricignition purposes, said invention aiming at economy of construction,simplicity of parts, and durability and efliciency of operation.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 illustrates my improved timer inend elevation as it would appear in use part of the same being brokenaway and in section. Fig. 2 is a section on the plane of the line 22,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of said parts separated.

1 represents the back of the timer.

2 represents the shaft by which the timer arm is driven in the usualmanner from the customary source of power. In this particular instancethe timer is adapted to a four cylinder internal combustion engine.

3 is a housing concentrically mounted rela tively to the shaft 2. Inthis instance the housing is circular in form and is yieldingly pressedby a spring 4 against the back 1 and is prevented from lateraldisplacement on the latter by a flange 5. The spring 4: may be mountedat one end in any suitable manner, while its other end may bear in acentral depression 6 at the outer end of the housing 3.

7, 8, 9, 10 are binding posts which are suitably connected with acorresponding num ber of the insulated terminals within the housing,each binding post having a terminal. corresponding with the terminal 11shown as connected to the binding post 7 in Fig. 1.

12 is a ring of insulating material, the several terminals being carriedby said ring 12 and being substantially flush with the inner wallthereof, so that they will be properly and successively engaged by thecontact member of a rotary timer arm. The ring 12 is as shown in Fig. 2,spaced away from the outer wall 13 of the housing 3 so as to pro vide anannular space or reservoir 14 to hold a suitable lubricant.

15 is a plug for an oil hole, the same being located'in the outer partof the housing 3 so that oil. may be squirted into the casing andconducted down into the annular oil reservoir 1 1. I

16 is a contact member preferably in the form of a roller suitablydesigned to roll around the inner surface of the insulating ring 12 forthe purpose of successively engaging the terminals 11 carried by thehind- 111g posts 7, 8, 9 and 10. This contact member 16 in theparticular form shown, is mounted in a carrier yoke 17 which islongitudinally slidable relatively to its supporting member. The saidsupporting member comprises two side arms 1818, the opposite edges ofwhich project inwardly toward each. other and are so spaced as to affordan effective guideway or channel for the contact carrier yoke 17. Thearms 1818 are connected at their rear ends by the bridge 19 which ispreferably integral therewith.

20-20 are ears at the opposite ends of the connecting bridge 19, whichears have guide passages.

21-21 are corresponding ears at the opposite ends of the base of thecarrier yoke 17.

2222 are guide pins secured to the ears 2l-21 and pass down through theguide pas sages in the ears 20-20. The ends of these pins 22 may beheaded to prevent said pins from being withdrawn from the guide passagesin the ears 2020.

23-28 are coil springs surrounding the guide pins 22-22 and exertingpressure between the ears 2021. I have found that a coil spring ispreferable for the purpose of pressing the contact carrier yoke 17outwardly, because it possesses the greatest durability. The yoke 17 andthe supporting and guidingmember therefor, may be struck up from sheetmetal and, therefore, produced with great speed, economy and uniformity. When these parts are assembled they are mounted on that part ofthe shaft 2 which projects into the housing 3 so as to standsubstantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

2 1 is a pin which is designed to pass through the outer end of theshaft 2 and which may have a right angle arm 2st to perform the functionof a key. The parts 1818 have passages therein of a size and shape topermit the same to be slipped over the shaft when the key is in place,said key holding said parts from independent rotation on the shaft whenthe parts are assembled.

25 is a nut designed to be screwed on to the outer end of the shaft 2,to hold the timer arm in the position shown in Fig. 2.

2b is a spring washer which may be provided between the nut and theadjacent side of the timer arm.

In operation the parts would be assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2wherein the movable contact roller 16 is located within the insulatingring 12 and is pressed against the same with the proper degree oftension by the springs 23. Thus when the shaft 2 is rotated, the roller16 will successively traverse the contacts 11 so as to close the circuitintermittently and successively through the several binding postterminals. The spring pressure of the contact roller 1.6 against theinner wall of the ring 12 and the contacts 11 is in a radial direction.So tar as it is necessary for the contact roller 16 to yield. thisyielding action is permitted without danger of binding by reason of thefact that a long bearing is provided for the roller carrying element.the bearing points occurring at the opposite edges of the yoke 17 at oneside of the shaft 2 and by the guide pins 22 in the cars 20 at theopposite side ot the shaft. I have found that by causing the roller 16to exert a radial pressure against the inner wall of the ring. alltendency of bobbing. such as is likely to occur in the old type ofmovable contact support is avoided. Again, by providing springs of thetype shown herein I am enabled to secure a more even pressure of themovable contact against the surrounding ring.

It will be understood I have shown the timer in this instance soconstructed that the frame constitutes the ground or one end of thecircuit, while the binding posts 7, S, 9 and 10 carrying the respectiveterminals are insulated and constitute the other end of the circuit. Theguide pins serve not only to hold the parts 17 and li -18 in cooperativerelation so that they will collectively constitute a timer arm. but saidguide pins also serve to steady the coil springs 23. and to prevent themfrom buckling. The housing may be oscillated on the back 1 to thedesired degree for the purpose of advancing" or retarding the time ofigi'iition. and for this purpose an operating arm QT may be provided. Inoperation. the lubrication oi the various parts is n'iaintained byreason of the fact that the roller 16 will pick up and distribute thelubricant contained in the reservoir 1%.

It is obvious that in various respectsI may modity the design of theanions parts illus trated and described without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention.

The member which carries the rotatable contact is in e'l'lect anextensible arm. and the piece 17 which directly -arries the rollercontact not only in yoke form. but the piece made up of the two sidearms 18 13 and the bridge 19 is also in effect a yoke. These yokes onlypartially overlap. and hence. the importance and valuev of the supplementary guiding means. which allor ls long bearing and thus preventsthe wedging or jannning ot said parts which might otherwise occur with ashort overlap.

What I claim is:

1. In a timer a ring of insulating mal'crial. a contact terminal at theinner edge thereofl a rotatable element concentrically mountedrelatively to said ring. a longitudinally extensible arm carried by saidrotatable element and projecting radially therefrom and comprising twotelescopic members. a rotatable contact terminal 'arried by the outerpart of said arm and arranged to traverse the interior of said ring andthe terminal :arried thereby, two guide pins cured to the outer part ofsaid extensible arm and slidably connected with the other part of saidextensible arm. and two coil .-;prings surrounding said guide pins andexerting pressure against said parts in. a direction to extend said arm.

2. In a timer. a rotatable contact carrying arm comprising twotelescopic members. the outer one of said members being in the form of ayoke open at the outer end and arranged to carry a rotatable contactroller. the other part of said arm comprising two spaced side pieces. a.guide channel between them for receiving the rear end oi said yoke. twoguide pins carried by the yoke and slidably connected with the otherpart of said arm to the rear of the yoke to assist in the guiding ofsaid yoke as it is reciprocated, and a spring for exerting an outwardradial pressure against the yoke.

3. In a timer. a rotatable contact carrying arm comprising twotelescopic mcnibcrs. the outer one of .aid members being in the form ofa yoke open at the outer end and arranged to carry a rotatable contactroller. the other part of said arm con'iprising two spaced side pieces-aguide channel between them tor receiving the rear end o l said yoke, twoguide pins carried by the yoke and slidablv conn icted with the otherpart oi said arm to the r ar of the yoke to assist in the guiding ofsaid yoke as it reci nocated. c il springs surri'nnn'ling said guidepins and exerting pressure against said yoke in an outward direction.

l. In a timer. :1 time' arm including two extensible members. the outermember comorising a one-piece yoke inchiding two side arms arranged toreceive between them a rotatable contact roller. the inner membercomprising two channeled side arms integrally united at'their rear endsby a bridge. and having channels forming a guide-way for said yoke. twoguide pins carried by the rear end of said yoke and slidably connectedwith. and guided by. the inner member of said arm, and means forexerting a yielding pressure against said yoke in an outward direction.

In a timer, a contact carrying arm comprising two extensible members,the inner n'iember comprising two spaced side arms connected at theirrear ends, the outer memher also comprising two spaced side arms alsoconnected at their rear ends, said outer member being slidable betweenthe arms of the inner member, a shaft passage through the side arms ofthe inner member, a guide extension carried by the outer member andslidably connected with the inner member at the rear of said shaftpassage therein, and a spring for exerting outward pressure against theouter member of said arm.

6. In a timer, a contact carrying arm comprising two extensible members,the inner member comprising two spaced side arms connected at their rearends, the outer member also comprising two spaced side arms alsoconnected at their rear ends, said outer member being slidable betweenthe arms of the inner member, a shaft passage through the side arms ofthe inner member, a guide extension carried by the outer member andslidably connected with the inner member at the rear of said shaftpassage therein, and a spring for exerting outward pressure against theouter member of said arm, said spring being supported by said guideextension.

7. In a timer, a relatively stationary contact terminal. a relativelymovable contact arranged to traverse the same, a rotatable shaft, saidextensible arm being carried by said shaft and comprising two partiallyoverlapping members, one of said members being guided on the other and asupplemen tarv guiding means between said two partially overlappingmembers.

8. In a timer, a relatively stationary contact terminal, a relativelymovable contact arranged to traverse the same, a rotatable shaft. saidextensible arm being carried by said shaft and comprising two partially(Werlapping members. one of said members being guided on the other and asupplementarv guiding means between said two partiallv overlappingn'lembers-said partially overlapping members being of yoke formationwith the open ends of said yokes facing in the same direction.

9. In a timer, a stationary back, a shaft projecting therethrough andmounted to 1'0- tate, a contact terminal carried thereby and means forconnecting said contact terminal thereto comprising two parallel armsdirectly carried by the said shaft and formed with guide-ways and twoparallel arms slidable in said guide-ways at one side of said shaft,said contact comprisinga roller revolubly mounted between the last twomentioned arms, means for forcing said last two mentioned arms outwardlyin said guide-ways relatively to said shaft, a rela tively stationaryhousing mounted on said body and adjustable relatively thereto and acontact carried thereby for cooperation rotate, a contact terminalcarried thereby and means for connecting said contact terminal theretocomprising two parallel arms directly carried by the said shaft andformed with guide-ways, two parallel arms slidable in said guide-ways atone side of said shaft, a contact comprising a roller revolubly mountedbetween the last two mentioned arms, means for forcing said last twomentioned arms outwardly in said guide-ways relatively to said shaft, arelatively stationary housing mounted on said body and adjustablerelatively thereto and a contact carried thereby for cooperation withthe contact carried by the shaft, one of said contacts being insulatedfrom its support, said insulating means comprising a ring mounted insaid housingnear one end thereof but spaced therefrom to provide anannular luln-icant carrying groove adjacent to one side of said housing.

11. In a timer, a rotatable shaft, a relatively stationary housing forone end of said shaft, a contact carried by said housing, anothercontact carried by said shaft and arranged to cooperate with the firstmentioned contact, means for connecting the second mentioned. contact tosaid shaft comprising two parallel plates having a shaft passage throughthe same, with means for securing said plates on said shaft againstindependent rotation, a U-shaped contact supporting device arrangedbetween said side of said shaft, springs on opposite sides of said shaftfor moving, said contact carrying element in one direction.

In a timer, a rotatable shaft. a pair of parallel plates carried therebyand forming a guide-way between them extending raditact carrying elementplates.

H.111 a timer, a substantially verti'al stationary back, a substantiallyhorizontal rotatable shaft projecting through said back, a housingclosed at one end and overstanding one end of said shaftand ha ing anannular wall surroiniding said shaft means on said back for engagingsaid housing and holding the same concentric I'QlltiYGLY to said shaft,said housing being adjustable angularly around and relatively relativelyto said to said sha'l t, a ring of insulating material mounted withinthe annular part of said housing and forming an annular lubricantearrving space between itself and the closed end of said housing, acontact carried by said ring and. insulated from said housing, anothercontact carried by said shaft and arranged to traverse the inner edge ofsaid ring and the contact carried thereby as said shaft is rotated.

CHARLES l1. OUNO.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner e1 Tatea'ta, Washington, D. 3."

